Buying Versus Building a Home: Which Is Cheaper?

Is it less expensive to buy or build a house? That's a question that many homebuyers have --whether their first-time buyers or looking for toward their next move. Considering that "buy-and-flip" investors are less active and many developers have slowed down a bit, you'll soon realize that you have more home buying options than ever.

Here's what you need to know about buying an existing home versus building a custom home.

The Upfront Costs

Existing Home: The price of a home vary widely as it depends on the area, the square footage, the condition, the amenities, as well as many other factors.

Building a New Home: All things being equal and generally speaking, building a new home costs about $60-$70k more than buying an existing home with similar attributes. But that is not always the case. There are some instances where the cost per square foot comes out significantly less in a custom built home than in an existing home.

Here's something else to consider --when you build, you also have the advantage of only paying for what you want. While an existing home may have additional perks, like a basement or hardwood floors, it may not be something that you want or are willing to pay for.

Home Maintenance

Existing Home: Older homes require more maintenance because they have more wear and tear. Some homes may even need a big-time overhaul! As with any home purchase, never skip the home inspection and understand that even with well-maintained homes, repairs are inevitable.

Building a New Home: Maintenance on a new home is very little, and it's one of the central benefits of building a new home. Since everything from appliances to the HVAC system is new and under warranty, you'll enjoy several years of worry-free living. Some contractors even offer a whole the home warranty that protects the house for up to 10 years!

Outdoors

Existing Home: A mature garden with large trees and well-established landscaping is a big plus of buying an existing home. Mature trees and landscaping not only add value to the property but can even help to reduce energy costs by providing shade and efficient drainage.

Building a New Home: Professional landscaping can cost thousands plus many years to come to fruition. The benefit, however, is that you'll be able to design your outdoor precisely to your liking and it very little time. Depending on the project, you can have a custom-designed yard in two weeks or less.

Energy Efficiency

Existing Home: Older homes that have had little to no-updating use more energy. Appliances that are older than ten years, single-pane windows, and poor insulation are some updates you'll want to consider if you buy an existing home.

Building a New Home: When it comes to energy efficiency, new construction can't be beat. On average, new homes use about 21% less energy than older homes. However, this saving comes mostly from high-efficiency appliances. Meaning that if you purchase new HE appliances for an existing home, you can save just as much money on energy with an existing home as you would with new construction.

Appreciation

Existing Home: With an existing home, you make your purchase with some context. You can see the home's previous sale prices, the cost of similar homes in the area, and have a good idea of what the market value of your home will be in the future.

Building a New Home: New homes, especially those in up-and-coming neighborhoods, can be more of a gamble. Without any sale history or comparables to reference, you have very little to go on when thinking about the future value of your home. Of course, if this is your forever home, which is often the case with custom-built homes, then not having a history to predict the future may not matter.

Whether you're buying an existing home or building a new one, they both begin the same way --getting pre-qualified. Get started with our online application found in the links throughout our site.

About Us

Our mission is to serve our customers with honesty, integrity, and competence. We strive to provide our clients with affordable home loans while offering the lowest interest rates and closing costs possible